David Armstrong News

This exciting new staging will star the radiant Laura Griffith as Julie and 5th Avenue favorite Brandon O'Neill as Billy in his first Seattle production following his Broadway debut in Disney's Aladdin. The cast also includes local luminaries Anne Allgood, Eric Ankrim, Allen Fitzpatrick, Sean G. Griffin, Cynthia Jones, and Billie Wildrick, and marks The 5th Avenue debut of rising talent Joshua Downs.

he 5th Avenue Theatre has announced an exhilarating replacement for the Broadway-bound Something Rotten! in its 2014/15 season: Jasper in Deadland, a high-octane new musical with a book by Ryan Scott Oliver and Hunter Foster and music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver. Issaquah native and friend of The 5th Brandon Ivie will direct.

Mauckingbird Theatre Company begins its 2015 season with a celebration of one of America's greatest composers and songwriters, Cole Porter. Hot 'N Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration, runs January 13-February 1, at the Skybox at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Opening night is January 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors, and $15 for students. Tickets are available by calling the Mauckingbird Theatre Company box office at (215) 923-8909 or online at www.mauckingbird.org.

Broadway producers announced today that Something Rotten!, an original new musical, will forego its previously scheduled world premiere production at The 5th Avenue Theatre, and open directly at the St. James Theater on Broadway this spring. Another exciting new musical will be announced shortly to take its place in The 5th Avenue Theatre's 2014/15 season.

The 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, presented by the National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT), kicked off with THE 46TH MINUTE, a concert hosted by Lindsay Mendez and featuring performances by Heidi Blickenstaff, Doreen Montalvo, Mamie Parris, Bryce Ryness, and more. Musical presentations started October 23 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) and included Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton. The Festival concluded on October 24, 2014. Scroll down for photos!

BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, proudly presents A Christmas Carol, in conjunction with Theatreworks USA, on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30PM. A Christmas Carol is part of BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center's 2014-2015 Family Theater Season, featuring plays, musicals, puppetry, concerts and dance for all ages.

Rehearsals begin today for A Christmas Story, The Musical - the sensational hit Seattle can't stop talking about. After premiering at The 5th Avenue Theatre in 2010, A Christmas Story, The Musical spent two wildly successful holiday seasons in New York City and spurred a national tour.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) is proud to announce final casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Online Festival registration ends Friday, October 17.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) just announced initial casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the all-star lineup of directors and musical directors participating in the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre under the Artistic Direction of Kurt Beattie is proud to announce the Mainstage productions taking place in the 50th Anniversary Season in 2015. The mid-century mark will reflect ACT's contribution to the field throughout history and looking to the future with the theme, What Was, What is, and What Will Be. 2015 brings cause to celebrate two other milestone anniversaries: ACT will celebrate the 40th year of producing founder Gregory A. Falls' adaptation of A Christmas Carol, as well as the 90th anniversary of the 1925 Fraternal Order of Eagles building, ACT's historic landmark home since 1996. Commemorative celebrations and engagement opportunities will occur throughout the year. A brief history of ACT's founding is included following the season titles.

The 5th Avenue Theatre welcomes audiences to the first Spotlight Night of the 2014/15 season with a free exclusive preview of the show where hopes and dreams take center stage, A Chorus Line. This Spotlight Night is an evening of story and song exploring what makes A Chorus Line one of the most enduring musicals of all time and the life of creative genius that crafted it. Hosted by Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Spotlight Night gives the exclusive backstage access and a sneak preview of this groundbreaking hit show.

Rehearsals start today at The 5th Avenue Theatre for one singular sensation: the celebrated Broadway triumph, A Chorus Line. Kicking off the company's 2014/15 season, this thrilling 5th Avenue production has plucked fabulously talented dancers from many of Seattle's chorus lines and is putting them center stage, including Greg McCormick Allen, Taryn Darr, Gabriel Corey, Trina Mills, Mallory King, Connor Russell, Sarah Rose Davis, Taylor Niemeyer, Eric Esteb, and many others. The 5th is also pleased to welcome back Los Angeles triple-threat Chryssie Whitehead in the role of Cassie. Whitehead turned heads and shook audiences with her smoking performance of Lola in Damn Yankees. Broadway's Andrew Palermo makes his 5th Avenue debut as Zach.

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery is pleased to announce the appointment of Mathew Wright as Artistic Director, effective September 1, 2014.

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery has announced the appointment of Mathew Wright as Artistic Director, effective September 1, 2014.

The 5th Avenue Theatre welcomes audiences to the first Spotlight Night of the 2014/15 season with a free exclusive preview of the show where hopes and dreams take center stage, A Chorus Line. This Spotlight Night is an evening of story and song exploring what makes A Chorus Line one of the most enduring musicals of all time and the life of creative genius that crafted it. Hosted by Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Spotlight Night gives the exclusive backstage access and a sneak preview of this groundbreaking hit show.

The worldwide smash hit 'rock theatrical', Queen and Ben Elton's We Will Rock You, built around 24 of Queen's biggest hits will rock The 5th Avenue Theatre July 8-13. We Will Rock You is produced by Queen Theatrical Productions, Tribeca Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and NETworks Presentations.

High school students from across Washington State packed Benaroya Hall tonight for The 12th Annual 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theater, a high school version of the Tony Awards, proudly sponsored for the tenth year by Wells Fargo with additional support from Alaska Airlines. The house was packed with 2,000 teenagers, dressed in costume representing their schools' musical theater productions, who cheered for their peers as they performed musical excerpts and accepted awards honoring top student achievements in musical theater. The acclaimed event, directed this year by Mathew Wright, handed out awards in 21 categories ranging from Outstanding Overall Musical Production to Outstanding Lobby Display.

Love is blossoming in Seattle this spring when The 5th Avenue Theatre debuts the lush new musical, A Room with a View. Based on the E.M. Forster novel that inspired the Merchant Ivory film, this enchanting adaptation features a wonderfully rich score by Jeffrey Stock and a witty and moving book and additional lyrics by Marc Acito. This beguiling and intimate romantic comedy features a cast of Seattle's best-loved musical theater stars including Laura Griffith and Louis Hobson as Lucy and George. Directed by The 5th Avenue's David Armstrong, A Room with a View also features Patti Cohenour, Jadd Davis, Allen Fitzpatrick, Richard Gray, Suzy Hunt, Matt Owen, Will Reynolds, and Jenny Shotwell.

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre was originally set to present a re-imagined concert version of Lerner and Loewe's Tony Award-winning musical GIGI this May, but the company has been forced to cancel the production due to internal scheduling conflicts. The musical has been announced for a Broadway opening in 2015.